Fani-Kayode Accuses US Lobbyist of False Claims on Tinubu

Femi Fani-Kayode, the former Minister of Aviation and ambassador-designate to South Africa, has publicly criticized US lobbyist Karl Ikemefuna Von Batten and his firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C., for disseminating false claims about President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. In a statement on his X account, Fani-Kayode stated that he received numerous messages from around the world containing misleading information about Tinubu, much of which originated from Von Batten's publications.

He emphasized that Tinubu has not been convicted of any crime and accused Von Batten of attempting to damage the president's reputation. Fani-Kayode also dismissed a claim that Tinubu offered Von Batten $3 million through an associate to secure silence, challenging Von Batten to provide evidence for this allegation.

He asserted that the ongoing legal dispute in the United States should proceed through due process rather than political maneuvering. The Nigerian Presidency has maintained that the US proceedings are civil and related to lawful exemptions under the Freedom of Information Act, rejecting any notion of criminal prosecution against Tinubu.